Pamela May-Weeks, PhD, associate professor in the UNMC Department of Neurological Sciences, has been awarded the 2026 Vada Kinman Oldfield Award for Research in Alzheimer’s Disease.
The award, established by Barney Oldfield and named for his wife, is given annually to a UNMC researcher pursuing promising new ideas in Alzheimer’s research.
Dr. May-Weeks is a clinical neuropsychologist and division chief of neuropsychology, with an interest in cognitive assessment and detecting abnormal cognitive changes in older adults to inform their care and future.
The research team’s goal is to inform the development of plasma‑based, biomarker‑guided strategies for early detection and risk stratification of Alzheimer’s disease in people with HIV, as well as to better understand how plasma biomarker profiles relate to cognitive outcomes.
Dr. May-Weeks said she sincerely appreciates the Kinman-Oldfield Foundation’s commitment to supporting research that advances understanding of Alzheimer’s disease.
“I am deeply thankful to receive this generous award and am honored in the foundation’s confidence in our work,” she said. “I am fortunate to collaborate with an outstanding research team to carry out this proposal.”
She added, “This work will promote more equitable brain health outcomes for adults aging with HIV, including those affected by both HIV and Alzheimer’s disease.”
The Kinman-Oldfield Family Foundation also awarded its annual Nancy and Ronald Reagan Scholarship Awards, given to UNMC investigators and medical students pursuing promising, innovative work in Alzheimer’s research:
UNMC recipients are:
- Elizabeth Etafo
- Anna Frie
- Gavril Ibaan
- George Njoku
- Yaw Okyere
Two recipients from the University of Nebraska at Omaha are:
- Ademulegun Arijeniwa
- Vanessa Slotterback